Arlington County – A Roadmap Towards Stormwater Compliance in Virginia?

Arlington County has submitted a proposal to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) through the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation which could be used as a template by other municipalities throughout Virginia. Arlington’s plan to meet the requirements for reducing nitrogen, phosphorous and sediment in the Chesapeake Bay offers a variety of options to improve current discharge levels. Other municipalities (as well as developers) should give strong consideration to how they develop and maintain their systems as well as future developments which may provide opportunities for additional improvements. The flexibility of the Arlington plan may assist other municipalities to move forward towards submitting their own permit and to achieve their Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) requirements – not only the near future but also the ultimate deadlines in 2025.